Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 197

Baek Cheon was very worried and grabbed Jo Gul, who was about to rush forward.

“Let go of me! Let me go! I swear I’ll make him pay for hurting Chung Myung!” Jo Gul shouted, struggling.

“Calm down!” Baek Cheon said firmly.

“What do you mean, calm down! That bastard did something to Chung Myung…!”

“He’s not dead, you idiot!”

“…Huh?”

Just then.

Chung Myung was falling fast, but in the air, he twisted his body like a cat, landing lightly on his feet.

“Heh…”

Seeing this, Jo Gul’s face was pale and empty. He was terrified that Chung Myung was really hurt. He seemed to lose strength in his legs and collapsed on the spot. Yoon Jong put a hand on Jo Gul’s shoulder and sighed. “He’s really shocked,” Yoon Jong thought. Yoon Jong’s eyes were wide with shock, but as he saw Chung Myung stand, relief washed over him, making him weak in the knees.

And Yoo Iseol was the only one who stayed calm. She started to put her sword away… Wait, Samae? Why did you take out your sword again?

Just then, Yoon Jong, having swallowed hard, turned to look at Chung Myung.

Chung Myung, having landed, raised his head. The throwing star that Tang Gunak had thrown was clenched in his teeth.

“Ptooey!”

Chung Myung spat out the throwing star and swallowed the blood in his mouth.

“That was too close… way too close.”

If he hadn’t quickly moved his inner power and bitten down on the throwing star, it would have hit his face. Just thinking about it made him shiver.

“I didn’t expect you to hide a throwing star behind a throwing star.”

It wasn’t just one throwing star. There was another one, hidden behind the first, flying at a slightly different angle.

Of course, its power was weaker so it wouldn’t be noticed, but it could still be blocked like this.

“Impressive. You are truly something special.”

Tang Gunak nodded, showing his admiration.

It was a simple act of quick thinking.

But to think so fast and act like that when your life was in danger was amazing. Maybe this quick thinking was even more impressive than all the martial arts Chung Myung had shown before.

‘At least he’s not just a young, inexperienced fighter who dies easily.’

That level of martial arts, that quick thinking, and that strange skill.

‘The word ‘genius’ doesn’t even begin to describe him.’

Then what word should be used for this monster?

Tang Gunak kept looking at Chung Myung.

“Eight seconds.”

Chung Myung spat out more blood. His tongue was cut, and blood was coming out.

But Chung Myung, not caring about the pain, glared at Tang Gunak and said, “Two moves left.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Gunak no longer smiled.

He respected Chung Myung now. You should show respect to someone you respect.

“Two moves are enough.”

Chung Myung’s face became serious as he felt Tang Gunak’s power change.

Tang Gunak held one throwing star in his hand.

“If you can stop this, then you win.”

Tang Gunak started to fill the throwing star with his inner power.

The throwing star trembled a little, then started to shake strongly, as if it was alive. With the huge amount of inner power, the throwing star thrashed around.

Cold sweat ran down Chung Myung’s back.

It was a huge power.

This attack would be much stronger than the throwing stars Tang Gunak used before.

One.

‘Two moves.’

Only two attacks left now.

If he could survive these two attacks, Chung Myung would win!

Chung Myung could see it clearly.

Sweat was forming on Tang Gunak’s forehead, who had been so relaxed until now. It meant that Tang Gunak was also using all his power for this attack.

‘It’s coming!’

“Take this!”

The throwing star in Tang Gunak’s hand floated up and slowly moved towards Chung Myung.

No, “moved” was not the right word.

“Moved” was too fast for a throwing star that was going slower than an ant crawling.

Dark Burst Throwing Star.

The ultimate move that Dang Zhan used to beat Jo Gul!

This Dark Burst Throwing Star from Tang Gunak was much stronger than Dang Zhan’s.

Chung Myung’s body became stiff.

The very slow throwing star started to spin the air around it. Soon, a dark vortex like a hungry mouth, sucking in dust and stones from the ground, formed around the throwing star.

A strong pressure pushed in.

Chung Myung gripped his sword tightly.

How could he stop a deadly attack like this?

It was now.

With a huge explosion that sounded like the sky breaking, the Dark Burst Throwing Star shot towards Chung Myung at an amazing speed.

He knew it.

He couldn’t block it!

But he couldn’t run either. The fast-spinning Dark Burst Throwing Star was pulling everything towards it.

Then?

Chung Myung held his sword out.

‘Don’t think too much.’

This was not a time to think with his head.

‘Trust!’

His sword knew everything.

His sword held everything.

His sword was Hwasan, and Hwasan was his sword.

He had to trust his own sword!

‘Bloom!’

The sword moved gracefully.

Slowly. Too slowly.

But the sword was not slow. The world was moving slower than his sword.

Blooming.

From the tip of the sword.

First, a small plum blossom.

Then, many plum blossoms appeared around the tip of his sword.

The strongest defense of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Style was shown at the tip of Chung Myung’s sword after a hundred years.

The plum blossoms bloomed and overlapped, creating a strong wall of flowers.

Plum Blossom Rampart.

Chung Myung used all his inner power, making hundreds of plum blossoms along his sword. And these plum blossoms covered the path of the Dark Burst Throwing Star.

The Dark Burst Throwing Star cut through the plum blossoms quickly. The plum blossoms broke and disappeared because they couldn’t stop the power of the throwing star.

It was like hundreds of plum blossoms were nothing against this one throwing star. The Dark Burst Throwing Star kept going, breaking through the wall of plum blossoms without slowing down.

“Haaaaaa!”

Chung Myung shouted, but his feet moved back, and back again. He kept making plum blossoms with his sword.

If he couldn’t block it once, he would swing many times. If he still couldn’t block it, he would swing hundreds of times.

The plum blossoms of Hwasan bloomed again and again.

They would only disappear for a moment, then bloom again strongly. Chung Myung’s sword made endless plum blossoms.

No strong power could break this endless cycle.

The Dark Burst Throwing Star, which had been moving forward with harsh sounds, slowly started to lose power.

Chung Myung’s eyes lit up with hope.

Chung Myung used all his inner power and made even more plum blossoms.

And then.

Chung Myung looked up quickly.

Another throwing star!

Before he knew it, another throwing star from Tang Gunak was flying with great power.

Towards Chung Myung?

No!

The throwing star hit the back of the Dark Burst Throwing Star, which was losing power.

A loud explosion happened, and the Dark Burst Throwing Star became twice as strong, tearing through all the plum blossoms in its way.

Then, it created a huge vortex that lifted all the stones from the floor and flew straight towards Chung Myung.

‘Ten seconds!’ (Is this a time limit? For what?)

Chung Myung’s teeth were clenched so tight his jaw ached. He roared, a defiant shout against the impossible odds, “This is the end!”

But instead of falling back, he charged.

*Crack!* *Crrrrackle!*

The plum blossom sword protested, the wooden handle groaning and splintering under the force of his grip. It felt like it might shatter in his hand.

A collective gasp swept through the watching disciples of Mount Hua. They stared, wide-eyed and terrified, as Chung Myung threw himself directly into the *Am 폭비* – Tang Gunak’s terrifying energy attack, which had transformed into a massive earthen dragon. It was a swirling vortex of power, crackling with visible energy, and it looked strong enough to rip stone apart, let alone flesh and bone.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Chung Myungaaaah!”

Baek Cheon merely clenched his fist tightly.

‘Go! Show them. Show them what the sword of Mount Hua is!’

The energy from his core was drawn out completely, swirling around his entire body. The external energies, responding to his intense inner energy, were sucked into Chung Myung’s body.

Chung Myung used every bit of energy he had. He poured it all into his sword.

Woooooong!

The sword screamed, unable to bear the force of the energy. The tip of the plum blossom sword was cracking and splitting.

But Chung Myung’s gaze was fixed on only one place!

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

With a shout that seemed ready to burst, Chung Myung’s foot landed with a heavy stamp.

Kuuuung!

The floorboards splintered and cracked with a loud *Kuuuung!* Dust and wood fragments exploded outwards as the floor caved in under Chung Myung’s powerful stamp. Chung Myung, having drawn all the recoil from that tremendous stamp into his waist, swung his sword upwards in a single motion.

Plum Blossom Explosion!

Kwaaaaaaaang!

Tang Gunak’s *Am 폭비* attack crashed against Chung Myung’s sword. With a huge explosion, the wave of energy flew just over Chung Myung’s head.

Gulp!

A torrent of blood gushed from Chung Myung’s mouth like a waterfall.

But he had deflected it!

Before he could even steady himself, Chung Myung’s foot slammed against the ground.

‘Not yet! It’s coming. Right now!’

A cold prickle ran down Chung Myung’s spine. He didn’t need to see it to know – death was coming for him from behind.

Chung Myung kicked off the ground, floating into the air and spinning around.

He saw it clearly.

Swaaaaaaack!

The *Am 폭비* he had deflected was spinning in the air, aiming for his back.

‘The spinning dagger trick! How many masters had died from that wicked trick?’

Anyone who was relieved after blocking the *Am 폭비* invariably lost their lives to the *Hoeseonbi* that flew at their back. This continuous attack, from *Am 폭* to *Hoeseon*, was the one technique that Dangbo had been most proud of in his life.

“Come!”

Chung Myung, floating in the air, pulled his sword close. And then, he accurately received the flying dagger with the blade of his sword.

Kwaaaang!

A shock that felt like his arm was breaking and his insides were exploding washed over his body.

Chung Myung did not lose consciousness even in the vortex of that shock. Rather, he used the recoil to propel himself forward.

He could see it.

The face of Tang Gunak, astonished as he watched Chung Myung shoot towards him like an arrow released from a bow!

Chung Myung, who had blocked both the *Am 폭비* and the *Hoeseonbi*, flew towards the defenseless Tang Gunak with terrifying speed.

“This is the end!”

His hand was clenched so tight his knuckles were white, and the sword handle creaked under his grip, almost breaking. Chung Myung, having drawn out every last bit of strength he had, swung his sword with all his might.

Chwaaaaaaaack!

The tip of the sword tore through the air and struck Tang Gunak’s shoulder.

And!

Poooook!

The sound of a sharp blade piercing through a person’s body spread clearly.

The bodies of the two men froze in place.

As if time had stopped, the gazes of the two men met in the air. One filled with pain. The other with bewilderment.

Conflicting emotions crossed paths.

Chung Myung descended to the ground.

Thud.

Chung Myung’s face was calm, almost peaceful, despite the blood pouring from his mouth. On the other hand, Tang Gunak’s face was twisted in agony.

It was Chung Myung who spoke first.

“Ten… seconds.”

“……”

“You….”

Chung Myung’s body slowly fell forward.

“Cheating bastard…”

Plop.

Chung Myung’s body collapsed to the ground.

Tang Gunak stared blankly at the fallen Chung Myung. He could see the Dang family’s dagger, buried up to its hilt in his abdomen.

“You…”

Tang Gunak’s face twisted like a demon.

His head slowly turned back.

His eyes, filled with all the rage in the world, caught sight of Dangpae, frozen with one hand outstretched.

“You… you little worm!”

Dangpae, facing Tang Gunak’s rage head-on, trembled.

“L, Lord. I, I…”

“You, who doesn’t even know what honor is, dare to defile my match?”

“I, I did it for you, Lord…”

“Shut your mouth!”

Tang Gunak exploded in a burst of anger, unleashing his energy. Dangpae, struck by that force, spat blood and flew into the main building.

His anger was still not satisfied, Tang Gunak gnashed his teeth. Where in the world could there be a more humiliating defeat than this?

“Chung Myung!”

“Aaaaaaargh!”

“You dog-like bastards!”

The disciples of Mount Hua rushed in, dragging Chung Myung, who had collapsed to the ground.

Tang Gunak, seeing the venomous eyes of the Mount Hua disciples glaring at him, let out a low sigh.

“Ilbi (一匕).”

Suseut.

A figure dressed in black night clothes appeared behind Tang Gunak.

“Yes, Lord.”

“Move the Mount Hua Divine Dragon to the medical hall. Tell them to save him at all costs.”

“Yes!”

“If the Mount Hua Divine Dragon dies, not only will the head of the medical hall be executed, but also the entire leadership of the medical hall… The young lord dies too.”

“……”

Sweat poured down Ilbi’s entire body at those heavy words.

“I will save him, without fail.”

“You had better.”

As Ilbi approached Chung Myung, the disciples of Mount Hua blocked his path.

Baek Cheon, who had been glaring at Tang Gunak with murderous eyes from the front, drew his sword.

“Do not approach.”

“Easy, Hwajeonggeom,” Tang Gunak said, trying to sound reasonable.

Baek Cheon replied, his voice tight with anger, “Calm? I *am* calm. If I wasn’t, you’d already have my sword through your throat.”

Tang Gunak sighed.

“The medical skills of the Dang family are second to none in the world. The Dang family is the best place in this Sichuan to treat the Mount Hua Divine Dragon.”

“However, the Dang family is also the least trustworthy place right now.”

Tang Gunak bit his lip slightly. Normally, he would not have tolerated hearing such words from a young junior, but what Dangpae had done had robbed him of any opportunity to refute them.

“…I lost.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened slightly.

“I lost this match. And I lost in the most miserable way possible. So, at least give me a chance to restore my honor and prove that the Dang family is not a cowardly place.”

“……”

“I beg you.”

Tang Gunak bowed his head to Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly at the sight.

“We will go with you.”

“Of course.”

Baek Cheon glanced back. He could see Chung Myung, bleeding and unconscious, and his fellow disciples, desperately trying to stop the bleeding.

“…Will he live?”

“I will save him.”

Tang Gunak gritted his teeth. “Even if I have to use all of the Dang family’s secrets!”

Looking at Chung Myung’s face, as pale as a corpse, Baek Cheon gnashed his teeth.

“You had better keep that promise.”